The swing, an American dance, which evolved from the jazz era of the 1920's, was first known as the jitterbug. Later, this American dance was called the "lindy hop" in honor of Charles Lindberg, who flew solo across the Atlantic in 1927. Because of the popularity of swing bands during the 1930's and 1940's, the lindy was called the swing.

Jive Music

lively, syncopated music, fast or moderate tempo, 4/4 time signature, four beats per measure with accents on counts 2 and 4. Big band music. Jazz bands.

Jive Technique

Jive has torso leans and syncopation.

Keep the knees slightly bent. Have a soft bounce in your knees. Keep your weight forward on the balls of your feet.

Many dancers will vary the closed position frame by allowing the gentleman's left hand to hold the lady's right hand in a downward position.

Just before the rock step, both of you (both partners) should push with your arms as you rock.

"Send out" from closed basic to open position

"Bring in" from open position to closed basic. Guys, using your left hand, pull her across to your right side into closed position.

Basic Turning (in closed):
Guy steps across, lady steps between the guy's feet.
Gentlemen, when turning the basic, turn clockwise forward left on 1-and-2, then turn clockwise backward right pulling your right shoulder back (which will pull the lady's left shoulder forward) on 3-and-4. Guys, lean to your left on 1-and-2, then straighten on 3-and-4.

Challenge Basic
(with turns and with kicks)
(Don't suddenly let go of your partner when she is not expecting it. Let go of her carefully.)

Challenge Basic with continuous turns on count 1.

Paul's push-off basic

All of the basic steps above can be done either straight or turning.

Ladies, in the absence of a lead to the contrary, do the basic.

Don't pull on your partner during the basic.

Turns:

Demonstrate

½ turn to the left footwork for the man

½ turn to the right footwork for the man

½ turn to the left footwork for the lady

½ turn to the right footwork for the lady

Most turns are done with forefinger contact.

Ladies, at the completion of a turn, face your partner and offer both hands.

On most turns, you will trade places with your partner.

Don't duck under your arm. No matter how tall or short you or your partner is you can go under your own wrist without ducking.

Leading: Treat the lady like a lady. Don't yank on her arm. Remember that leading the lady into a turn is a continuation of the direction that she is already going.

basket step: Start in 2-hand open position, bring her into cuddle position, then let her out. Ladies don't forget to do the rock-step when are beside the man.

cuddle turns to both sides

the cuddle to cuddle double turn (the "stanton") With the lady on the man's right side in cuddle position, without letting go of either hand, raise both hands and rotate the lady 2 times to the left and then recapture her in cuddle position on the man's left side → then repeat to the other side.

cuddle to tuck 'n duck

he turns / she turns (Before he turns, the man turns his palm toward the ceiling. As your partner turns, slide your hand across your partner's back then down the arm.)

cross behind: man crosses to lady's right, grabs lady's right hand with his right, turns counterclockwise and passes lady's hand behind his back to his left hand, finish with an underarm turn or double underarm turn to unwrap.

gentlemen's high-hand turn

walk through: Walk through with hand change → underarm turn → change the hand. Guys, as you are doing the walk through, put your free hand over your other hand.

outside roll for man:
walk through and switch hands so man is holding her right with his right → lead her into an underarm turn while man does outside roll → underarm turn.

gentlemen's wrap-around turn: From open facing position, guy brings his right hand across his chest, Guy then turns counterclockwise 360º. At the completion of the turn, the guy grasps the lady's right hand with his left hand.

(Guys, to change direction on a circle, back slowly away from the lady and find a free left foot for a rock step, then rock step, and turn the circle the other way.)

Additional patterns

cuddle guided turn (or "cuddle shadow")

cuddle circles:
cuddle partner circle turns → while holding onto both hands, raise the outside hand causing the lady to make a full turn to the other side (a "Stanton" turn) → cuddle turns the other direction.

arm-slide circle

shake-hands position → double-sweetheart shadow

passing hand change: switch to handshake position → open break → the man pulls her to his side while he passes behind her and goes to the opposite side (as the man passes her he lets his opposite hand slide down her opposite shoulder to switch the hands) → repeat the passing hand change 3 times

advanced side-pass: shake hands and walk past, then lead an underarm turn raise whole arm let her under then switch the hands on the next basic.

repeated wrap and re-wrap

the see saw: tap step tap step → turn 1,2 → repeat

fan lady out to right then give her a reverse spin

Randy's move: Bring the lady into cuddle position, then with a quick motion, pull on your right hand (causing her to rotate clockwise) while simultaneously raising your left hand (and her right) up over her head causing her to spin clockwise twice and to end up behind you. The man should simultaneously do a half turn counterclockwise so the lady is back in front of him.

(both partners will begin turning with pivot steps, the lady will turn counterclockwise right foot forward and left foot back, the guy will turn clockwise, guy moves opposite foot to arm)

right hand over his head left to right then down and between partners.

His right goes over his head from left to right then over and behind her head. Her right hand goes over her head then left over his head

As you rotate, guy puts right hand over, left hand over, right hand over, left hand over, etc.

To finish, man lets go with his left hand and lady does a double spin counterclockwise.

the "wallet"

from handshake position, guy leads lady in underarm turn then puts his right hand over his head to an arm slide → while continuing to hold her right with his left, guy bends down and rotates clockwise one full revolution → guy straightens up and leads the lady on a counterclockwise double turn → then she rock steps.

bow & arrow: man backs up → (lady turns clockwise on second step) pull her left arm up and around her and over her head and bring it down to her right shoulder → lift your left hand and lead her out to a cross-arm hold → then lift both hands over her head to unwrap.

drape cuddle: (never let go of either hand) man backs up (lady turns clockwise on count 2) man takes his right hand over his head and places it on his left shoulder → man raises his left hand and goes out turning counter clockwise leaving her in the same spot → lady turns clockwise on second step → man takes his right hand over her head → then man raises his left hand and lets her out to unwrap.

arm & hammer: man backs up (lady turns clockwise on second step) wrap her right hand behind her → man lifts his left hand to lead her out (lady turn clockwise) into a hammerlock → then man lifts his left hand to unwrap.